Discovery of neighbor nodes in wireless mesh networks with directional transmissions

ABSTRACT

Wireless mesh networking protocols for directional transmissions in the PHY layer over multiple hops between a mix of mesh and non-mesh stations (STAs). Joint beamforming (BF) training and mesh network discovery is described including adaptive signaling with the mesh network. The mesh networking protocol can be utilized in a mix of wireless nodes including portals, access points (APs), personal control points (PCPs), and mesh stations (STAs).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/637,536 filed on Jun. 29, 2017, incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF COMPUTER PROGRAM APPENDIX

Not Applicable

NOTICE OF MATERIAL SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

A portion of the material in this patent document may be subject tocopyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States andof other countries. The owner of the copyright rights has no objectionto the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent andTrademark Office publicly available file or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The copyright owner does nothereby waive any of its rights to have this patent document maintainedin secrecy, including without limitation its rights pursuant to 37C.F.R. § 1.14.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The technology of this disclosure pertains generally to directionalwireless communications between stations, and more particularly tomultiple-hop relayed directional wireless communication which can mixmesh and non-mesh stations.

2. Background Discussion

Wireless networks, including mesh networks and mixtures of mesh andnon-mesh networks, are becoming increasingly important, such as in themillimeter wave (mm-wave) frequencies. With directional stationsconfigured for beamforming, it is possible to mitigate interference toother neighbor STAs. Theoretically, this leads to higher system capacityas the spectrum can be reused by neighboring STAs more aggressively.

However, a daunting task in mesh networking is the process of neighbordiscovery; a task whose complexity increases when directionaltransmission is introduced. The challenges in this process include: (a)knowledge of surrounding nodes IDs, (b) knowledge of best transmissionpatterns for beamforming; (c) channel access issues due to communicationcollisions and deafness; and (d) channel impairments due to blockage andreflections.

Providing neighborhood discovery mechanisms which overcome some or allof the above shortcomings for existing techniques is important foropening a path to pervasive mmWave device-to-device (D2D) and meshtechnologies. Existing technologies for mesh networking only addressmesh discovery solutions for networks operating in broadcast mode andare not designed, or capable for beneficial use, on networks usingdirectional wireless communications.

Accordingly, a need exists for mesh discovery solutions which arepractical for mm-wave directional wireless networks. The presentdisclosure fulfills that need, as well as others, while providingadditional benefits over existing direction wireless protocols.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An efficient multiple-hop (multi-hop) communication network protocol isdisclosed for directional transmission in the PHY layer (i.e., mm-wavePHY), and referred to herein as a mm-wave mesh network. Adding multi-hoprelay capability is a promising technology mix toward overcoming some ofthe drawbacks of mm-wave PHY.

The present disclosure teaches new methods for performing joint beamform(BF) training and mesh network neighbor discovery, which includeadaptive signaling within the mesh network.

A number of terms are utilized in the disclosure whose meanings aregenerally utilized as described below.

Mesh Access Point (Mesh AP): a Mesh STA who has an attached access point(AP) to provide services for clients (STA).

Mesh Identification (Mesh ID): an identification element of the meshnetwork.

Mesh profile: a set of parameters that specifies the attributes of amesh basic service set (BSS).

Mesh Station (Mesh STA): a node that participates in the formation andoperation of the mesh cloud.

MIMO: Multiple Input Multiple Output; communications between two deviceswith multiple streams of data.

Portal: a mesh STA with the additional functionality of acting as abridge or gateway between the mesh cloud and external networks.

PCP Station: personal control point Station.

Quasi-omni directional: A directional multi-gigabit (DMG) antennaoperating mode with the widest beamwidth attainable.

RREQ: Routing Request, a packet used in data routing protocols todiscover the path between the source STA and the destination STA.

RREP: Routing Reply, a packet transmitted in response to RREQ in routingprotocols, whereupon reception of RREP by a source STA it can starttransmitting data packets.

SISO: Single Input Single Output; communications between two deviceswith single stream of data.

SSID: service Set Identifier; the name assigned to a WLAN network.

SSW: Sector Sweep, is an operation in which transmissions are performedin different sectors (directions) and information collected on receivedsignals, strengths and so forth.

STA: Station; a logical entity that is a singly addressable instance ofa medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) interface to thewireless medium (WM).

Sweep: A sequence of transmissions, separated by a short beamforminginterframe space (SBIFS) interval, in which the antenna configuration atthe transmitter or receiver is changed between transmissions.

Further aspects of the technology described herein will be brought outin the following portions of the specification, wherein the detaileddescription is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodimentsof the technology without placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The technology described herein will be more fully understood byreference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposesonly:

FIG. 1 is a radio node topology showing a mix of stations, accesspoints, and portals as shown for a mixed network of mesh and non-meshstations.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram for a STA joining a regular IEEE802.11 WLAN.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram for a STA joining a IEEE802.11 mesh WLAN.

FIG. 4 is a data field diagram of a mesh ID element in the existing IEEE802.11s protocol.

FIG. 5 is a data field diagram of a Mesh Configuration element in theexisting IEEE 802.11s protocol.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of sector sweep for a directional transmitterhaving a plurality of sectors and an quasi-omni directional receiverstation.

FIG. 7 is a message passing diagram showing conventional sector levelsweeping (SSW).

FIG. 8 is a data field diagram of a sector sweep frame (an SSW frame) asutilized in the 802.11ad standard.

FIG. 9 is a data field diagram of the sector sweep field within an SSWframe as utilized in the 802.11ad standard.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are data field diagrams of different SSW feedbackfields.

FIG. 11 is radio node topology shown by way of example for which anetwork protocol is executed according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a neighbor discovery protocol according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of sector sweeping as utilized according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of STA logic for joining a mesh networkaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B is a flow diagram of alternate embodiment for anexisting mesh STA to transmit periodic beacons according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a response by a mesh STA that received aprobe request from a new STA willing to join the mesh network accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of a response of a mesh STA that received aperiodic beacon frames from a peer mesh STA according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a data field diagram of an MSSW Control frame according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a data field diagram of the MSSW IE field of the MSSW controlframe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 a data field diagram is MSSW-FB IE field according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B are block diagrams of sector sweeping andresponses according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a communication timeline of one shot SSW transmission and RXBF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a transmit-response diagram of freezing BF training and meshdiscovery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24A through FIG. 24C are block diagrams and message passing diagramof allocating flexible transmission times according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B are message passing diagram for an alternatemethod of allocating flexible reception times according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B is a flow diagram of adapting mesh discoverysignaling according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 27A through FIG. 27F are diagrams of mesh discovery protocolaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of station hardware as utilized according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 29 is a beam pattern diagram as utilized on STAs according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1. Introduction to IEEE 802.11s

IEEE 802.11s is a wireless communications standard that adds wirelessmesh networking capabilities to the IEEE 802.11 standard. In 802.11s newtypes of radio stations as well as new signaling is provided to enablemesh network discovery, establishing peer-to-peer connection, androuting of data through the mesh network.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a mesh network where a mix of non-meshSTAs connect to Mesh-STA/AP (solid lines) and Mesh STAs connect to othermesh STAs (dotted lines) including a mesh portal according to IEEE802.1a Multihop MAC.

The first step in mesh network formation is to discover the neighbors.The 802.11s protocol utilizes active or passive scanning signals thatinclude mesh related fields. Passive scanning is performed throughperiodic beacon signals. Active scanning is performed through on-demandprobe request signals.

Each mesh STA transmits Beacon frames periodically, and responds withProbe Response frames when a Probe Request frame is received, so thatneighbor mesh STAs can perform mesh discovery appropriately. Theidentification of the mesh network is given by the Mesh ID elementcontained in the Beacon and the Probe Response frames. In one meshnetwork, all mesh STAs use the same mesh profile. Mesh profiles areconsidered the same if all parameters in the mesh profiles match. Themesh profile is included in the Beacon and Probe Response frames, sothat the mesh profile can be obtained by its neighbor mesh STAs throughthe scan. When a mesh STA discovers a neighbor mesh STA through thescanning process, the discovered mesh STA is considered a candidate peermesh STA. It may become a member of the mesh network of which thediscovered mesh STA is a member and establish a mesh peering with theneighbor mesh STA. The discovered neighbor mesh STA may be considered acandidate peer mesh STA when the mesh STA uses the same mesh profile asthe received Beacon or Probe Response frame indicates for the neighbormesh STA.

The mesh STA attempts to maintain the discovered neighbors informationin a Mesh Neighbors Table, which includes (a) a neighbor MAC address,(b) operating channel number, and (c) most recently observed link statusand quality information. If no neighbors are detected, the mesh STAadopts the Mesh ID for its highest priority profile and remains active.

All the described signaling to discover neighbor mesh STAs are currentlyperformed in broadcast mode, because the 802.11s protocol was notdesigned for networks with directional wireless communications.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate the difference between a STA joining aregular WLAN network versus joining a WLAN mesh network. In FIG. 2 a STApassively listens to beacons from nearby access points, receives abeacon that contains the SSID of the 60 GHZ 802.11 network, e.g.,802.11ad. The STA completes BF training with the AP and after receivingBF training completion acknowledgment from the AP, it can startauthentication and association with that AP. A different process isperformed for mesh networks, with FIG. 3 depicting the flow of a new STAjoining a WLAN mesh network, e.g., 802.11s. A new mesh STA waits tolisten to multiple beacons from different “N” mesh STAs. The Mesh IDallows the STA to recognize the mesh nodes belonging to the samenetwork. After the discovery of few mesh STAs, the new mesh STA wouldstart establishing peer links with some or all of its recorded MeshNeighbors Table.

1.1. Mesh Identification Element in IEEE 802.11s

FIG. 4 depicts a Mesh ID element used in IEEE 802.11s to advertise theidentification of a mesh network, and showing fields of Element ID,Length, and Mesh ID. The Mesh ID (Mesh ID) is transmitted in a Proberequest, by a new STA willing to join a mesh network, and in beaconsignals, by existing mesh network STAs. Setting a Mesh ID field to a 0length indicates the wildcard Mesh ID as used within Probe Requestframe. A wildcard Mesh ID is a specific ID that prevents non-mesh STAfrom joining a mesh network.

1.2. Mesh Configuration Element in IEEE 802.11s

FIG. 5 depicts a Mesh Configuration element of IEEE 802.11s, as utilizedfor advertising mesh services. The Mesh Configuration element iscontained in Beacon frames and Probe Response frames transmitted by meshSTAs. Aside from an Element ID, Length, Mesh Formation Info and MeshCapability, the main contents of the Mesh Configuration elements are: apath selection protocol identifier, a path selection metric identifier,a congestion control mode identifier, synchronization method identifier,and an authentication protocol identifier. The contents of the MeshConfiguration Element seen in FIG. 3 together with the Mesh ID form amesh profile.

2. Overview of 802.11ad Beamform (BF) Training

An example of a mmWave WLAN state-of-the-art system is found in the IEEE802.11ad standard. BF training is a bidirectional sequence of BFtraining frame transmissions that utilize sector sweep and provide thenecessary signaling to allow each STA to determine appropriate antennasystem settings for both transmission and reception. The 802.11ad BFtraining process can be performed in phases. Sector level sweep phase isperformed in which directional transmission with low gain (quasi-omni)reception is performed for link acquisition. A refinement phase thenadds receive gain and final adjustment for combined transmit andreceive. A tracking phase is performed during data transmission toadjust for channel changes.

2.1. 802.11ad SLS BF Training

The following focuses on the sector level sweep (SLS) mandatory phase ofthe 802.11ad standard. During SLS, a pair of STAs exchange a series ofsector sweep (SSW) frames (or beacons in case of transmit sectortraining at the personal control point (PCP) station or access point(AP) station (PCP/AP) over different antenna sectors to find the oneproviding highest signal quality. The station that transmits first iscalled the initiator, the second is the responder. During a transmitsector sweep (TXSS), SSW frames are transmitted on different sectorswhile the pairing node (the responder) receives with a quasi-omnidirectional pattern. The responder determines the antenna array sectorfrom the initiator which provided the best link quality (e.g., SNR).

FIG. 6 illustrates the concept of SSW in 802.11ad with an example inwhich STA1 is an initiator of the SLS and STA2 is the responder. STA1sweeps through all of the transmit antenna pattern fine sectors whileSTA2 receives in a quasi-omni directional pattern. STA2 feeds back toSTA1 the best sector it received from STA1.

FIG. 7 Illustrates the signaling of the SLS protocol as implemented in802.11ad specifications for the example between STA1 and STA2. Eachframe in the transmit sector sweep includes information on sectorcountdown indication (CDOWN), a Sector ID, and an Antenna ID. The bestSector ID and Antenna ID information are fed back with the Sector SweepFeedback and Sector Sweep ACK frames.

FIG. 8 depicts the fields for the sector sweep frame (an SSW frame) asutilized in the 802.11ad standard, with the fields outlined below. TheFrame Control field contains control information used for defining thetype of frame and information necessary for the following fields tounderstand how to process the frame. The Duration field is set to thetime until the end of the SSW frame transmission. The RA field containsthe MAC address of the STA that is the intended receiver of the sectorsweep. The TA field contains the MAC address of the transmitter STA ofthe sector sweep frame. A sector sweep (SSW) field and SSW feedbackfield are included along with a frame check sequence (FCS).

FIG. 9 illustrates data fields for the SSW field, with principleinformation as follows. The Direction field is set to 0 to indicate thatthe frame is transmitted by the beamforming initiator and set to 1 toindicate that the frame is transmitted by the beamforming responder. TheCDOWN field is a down-counter indicating the number of remaining DMGBeacon frame transmissions to the end of the TXSS. The sector ID fieldis set to indicate the sector number through which the frame containingthis SSW field is transmitted. The DMG Antenna ID field indicates whichDMG antenna the transmitter is currently using for this transmission.The RXSS Length field is valid only when transmitted in a CBAP and isreserved otherwise. This RXSS Length field specifies the length of areceive sector sweep as required by the transmitting STA, and is definedin units of a SSW frame.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B depict different SSW feedback fields. The formatshown in FIG. 10A is used when transmitted as part of an initiatorsector sweep (ISS), while the format of FIG. 10B is used when nottransmitted as part of an ISS. The Total Sectors in the ISS fieldindicate the total number of sectors that the initiator uses in the ISS.The Number of RX DMG Antennas subfield indicates the number of receiverDMG antennas the initiator uses during a subsequent Receive Sector Sweep(RSS). The Sector Select field contains the value of the Sector IDsubfield of the SSW field within the frame that was received with bestquality in the immediately preceding sector sweep. The DMG AntennaSelect field indicates the value of the DMG Antenna ID subfield of theSSW field within the frame that was received with best quality in theimmediately preceding sector sweep. The SNR Report field is set to thevalue of the SNR from the frame that was received with best qualityduring the immediately preceding sector sweep, and which is indicated inthe sector select field. The Poll Required field is set to 1 by anon-personal basic service set control point (non-PCP) or a non-accesspoint (non-AP) STA to indicate that it requires the PCP/AP to initiatecommunication with the non-PCP/non-AP. The Poll Required field is set to0 to indicate that the non-PCP/non-AP has no preference about whetherthe PCP/AP initiates the communication.

3. Disclosed Joint BF Training and Mesh Discovery

3.1. Topology under Consideration

The following section considers a mmWave mesh network. Due to linkbudget limitations, mesh networking through multi-hop communicationsenables extension of the transmission range.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example group of radio nodes 10 with directionaltransmission, and depicts connections between STA A 12, STA B 14, STA C16, STA D 18, and STA E 20. Taking STA A 12 as an example, itstransmission has a range 22 that allows communication with STA B 14 andSTA C 16 with beamforming. However, STA A communication range even afterbeamforming is not able to reach STAs D and E. To extend the coverage ofSTA A in order to exchange communications with STA D or STA E, meshnetwork formation is required. The first step to form the mesh networkis to discover the neighbor nodes and to be able to communicatedirectionally to the peer nodes of the mesh network.

3.2. Joint BF Training and Mesh Neighbor Discovery Protocol

3.2.1. Overview

As previously described, neighbor discovery is the first step in joininga mesh network. However, in mmWave communications, beamforming trainingis needed in order to communicate directionally between peer STAs. Thepresent disclosure provides a neighbor discovery protocol for wirelessmesh networks with directional transmissions. This protocol achievesjoint neighborhood discovery and beamforming training in an efficientway.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example embodiment 30 of high level steps in theneighbor discovery protocol. In block 32 a sector sweep of networkdiscovery is performed, followed by BF training completion and responseto mesh network discovery 34, then the recording 36 and BF sectorsinformation and neighbor list.

3.2.2. Initiation Phase

One core of the present disclosure performing joint mesh networkdiscovery and BF training in which the scanning for mesh networkdiscovery, whether active or passive, is integrated within the BFtraining process. Scanning frames are transmitted from different antennasectors that simultaneously serve the purpose of BF training and meshnetwork discovery.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example embodiment 50 of sector sweeping forjoint BF training and discovery of mesh network neighbors. A meshstation 52 is seen from which transmission sectors 54 a through 54 n areshown with a sector sweep direction 56. A STA willing to join a meshnetwork transmits a probe request (active scanning) to checkavailability of peer mesh STAs. Also, periodically, in order to updateits BF training and neighbors list, an existing mesh STA transmits ateach sector a beacon frame that can include, but is not limited to: (a)SSW field; (b) BF sector number; (c) Count Down; (d) Mesh profile field;(e) Mesh ID element; and (f) Mesh configuration element.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example embodiment 70 of STA logic attempting tojoin a mesh network. At the start 72 of the process the new STA fetches74 stored mesh profile parameters, then fetches 76 stored antennaparameters, followed by generating sweep probe request frames 78 acrossa group of fine sectors and applying 80 receive BF weighting. Adetermination is made if a probe response frame has been received 82. Ifthe probe response is received, then at block 84 mesh profile parametersare recorded with best sector related information, and BF and proberesponse frames are transmitted 86, before reaching the decision ofblock 88. Also, if no probe response frame is received at decision block82, then block 88 is directly executed to check if all antenna patternsectors have been attempted. If not all antenna pattern sectors havebeen tried, then a jump to block 78 is made to try another one.Otherwise, with all antenna pattern sectors attempted the process ends89.

Thus, the STA sweeps a probe request to jointly discover and initiate BFtraining with neighbors in existing mesh networks. The new STA can sweepthe probe request across a limited number of fine sectors and wait forreceiving responses from other nearby mesh STAs. It repeats thesweeping, but with a new set of fine sectors until it has covered allthe sectors of the transmit antenna pattern.

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B illustrates an example embodiment 90 of thealternative to FIG. 12 of logic implemented by an existing mesh STA totransmit periodic beacons. The routine commences at block 92 with thebeacon interval timer expiring 94, upon which the STA fetches 96 storedmesh profile parameters, fetches 98 antenna pattern parameters, then itsweeps beacon frames 100 across a group of fine sectors, before applyingreceive BF weights 102. In block 104 a determination is made if BFtraining responder frames have been received. If the frames arereceived, then at block 106 mesh profile parameters and best sectorrelated information are recorded (stored), prior to transmitting BF ACKframes 108 to peer mesh STAs. After block 108, or if no BF trainingresponder frames are received at block 104, then decision block 110 isreached in FIG. 13B to determine if probe requests have been received.If probe requests were received, then at block a response is made 112 tothe probe request frames. Otherwise, block 112 is skipped, and decision114 checks if all transmit antenna pattern sectors have been checked. Ifnot all antenna sectors have been checked, then execution moves back toblock 98 for additional sectors. Otherwise, if all antenna patternsectors have been checked, then the process ends 116.

Thus, it can be seen that upon expiration of the beacon interval timer,the existing mesh STA sweeps the beacon frames to allow other nodes inits vicinity to know about its existence and that it belongs to aspecific mesh network. The beacons are also used to perform BF trainingwith other mesh nodes. While during reception time, the mesh STA mayreceive requests from new STAs to join the mesh network (probe requests)and respond to these requests. The response to probe requests is shownas a subroutine detailed in FIG. 16 in the next section. The sweepingprocess is repeated in a way similar to what was described above for anew STA.

3.2.3. Response Phase

Another core of the present disclosure is to have a mesh STA respondsimultaneously to the network discovery and BF training frames sent byanother STA. The responder SSW and mesh acknowledgment frames are sweptacross all sectors. The contents of the responder SSW and meshacknowledgment frames may contain: (a) Acknowledgment and exchange ofnode IDs by peer STA; source and destination addresses; and (b) BFtraining feedback with best received sector from mesh STA initiator andcorresponding link metric (e.g., SNR).

Since the frames are swept across all TX sectors, existing mesh STAs inthe network will overhear the initializing mesh STA node ID and theacknowledgment of the mesh peer STA in addition to the connectionquality. In the above way, the mesh network discovery will grow and STAscan quickly learn about new STAs that are out of range (or with blockedlinks) and which mesh STA that can act as relays toward out of rangeSTAs.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example embodiment 130 of response by a mesh STAthat received a probe request from a new STA willing to join the meshnetwork, as seen in block 112 in FIG. 13B. The subroutine starts 132 asthe STA receives 134 probe request frame, upon which it records 136(stores) sectors countdown, sector ID, and corresponding link metric. Adecision block is reached 138 to determine if the sectors count down hasreached zero. If the countdown has not reached zero, then executionreturns to block 134, otherwise block 140 records the best sector ID andcorresponding link metric. The STA prepares 142 a joint probe responseand responder BF frames, and applies 144 transmit BF weights. The STAthen performs a sweep probe response 146 containing best sectorinformation across multiple sectors. Then the STA receives 148acknowledgements (ACKs) from the mesh discovery initiator STA, afterwhich the routine ends 149.

Thus, it is seen above that the existing mesh STA keeps listening to theincoming probe request frames from multiple sectors until the sectorscountdown reaches zero. It then processes the best sector info andaggregates mesh profile parameters into a single frame. It sweeps thisjoint BF responder frame and probe response frame across multiplesectors. Finally, it waits for acknowledgment for the probe response andbest BF sector towards the new STA.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example embodiment 150 of the response of a meshSTA that received a periodic beacon frames from a peer mesh STA. Inprior art on mesh networking, e.g., 802.11s, beacons are used tobroadcast the existence of the node and the mesh network capability.However, in the present disclosure, beacons also serve as a means toperform periodic BF training with other nodes in the mesh network inaddition to notifying new STAs about the existence of a mesh network.

In the figure, the routine starts 152 when the STA receives 154 a beaconframe, then it records (stores) 156 sector countdown, sector ID, andcorresponding link metric. A decision is reached 158 to determine if thesectors countdown has reached zero. If it has not reached zero, thenexecution returns back to block 154. Otherwise, with countdown at zero,block 160 is reached and records (stores) the best sector ID andcorresponding link metric, after which the STA prepares 162 responder BFframes, and then applies transmit BF weights 164 and sweeps 166responder BF frames across multiple sectors. The station afterwardreceives 168 acknowledgement from a peer mesh station, after which theroutine ends 169.

3.2.4. Frame Contents

To enable the operation of the joint BF training and mesh discoveryprotocol, new information elements (lEs) are proposed that are includedin the SSW probe request and response frames. A new frame format, theMesh SSW (MSSW) frame is introduced.

FIG. 18 depicts an example embodiment 170 of the body of the MSSWControl frame showing the following:

-   -   RX Start: start of reception time corresponding to this        direction relative to the start of this frame;    -   RX Duration: integer number of slots dedicated for reception of        response frames to this MSSW;    -   MSSW: mesh SSW IE, to be detailed in next sections;    -   MSSW-FB: mesh SSW feedback IE, to be detailed in next sections;    -   Mesh ID: IE to advertise identification Mesh Network; and    -   Mesh Configuration: IE to advertise mesh services.

The MSSW IE is similar to the state-of-the-art SSW IE used in 802.11adspecifications with some modifications.

FIG. 19 depicts an example embodiment 180 of MSSW IE, with fieldcontents as follows. The Direction field is set to 0 to indicate thatthe frame is transmitted by the beamforming initiator and set to 1 toindicate that the frame is transmitted by the beamforming responder. TheGroups field is set to the number of fine sectors groups as explained inthe specifications of this invention. The Group ID indicates the groupwhich the sector that transmits the current frame belongs to. The CDOWNfield is a down-counter indicating the number of remaining DMG Beaconframe transmissions to the end of the TXSS. The sector ID field is setto indicate sector number through which the frame containing this SSWfield is transmitted. The DMG Antenna ID field indicates which DMGantenna the transmitter is currently using for this transmission. TheRXSS Length field is valid only when transmitted in a CBAP and isreserved otherwise. This RXSS Length field specifies the length of areceive sector sweep as required by the transmitting STA, and is definedin units of a MSSW frame.

FIG. 20 depicts an example embodiment 190 of the MSSW-FB IE. Compared tothe SSW-FB IE in the 802.11ad specifications, the MSSW-FB field prependsthe Group ID at the start of the MSSW-FB IE, and the Group ID indicatesthe group number of the sector that the current frame feedbacksinformation about.

4. Signaling for Joint BF Training and Mesh Network Discovery

4.1. Alternate Transmit and Receive Sectors Sweeping

At the core of the presently disclosed joint mesh and BF training is thesignaling method to jointly sweep across antenna sectors and scanneighbor mesh nodes. In one embodiment, the present disclosure utilizesalternate TX and RX sector sweeping including mesh scanning signals.

FIG. 21A illustrates an example embodiment 210 of fine sector sweepingduring transmit sector BF training and coarse sectors receive BFtraining. In the figure, a mesh STA 212, is seen with TX antenna sectors214 shown in groups 216, 218 and 220.

FIG. 21B illustrates an example embodiment 230 which maps the conceptfrom FIG. 21A to the time domain 231. Alternate periods of transmissionwith fine sectors (TX BF) and receptions with coarse RX BF are seen inthe figure. A transmission is generated 232 to sector group 216 of FIG.19A, and in response to which a coarse BF is received 234. Then atransmission 236 from sector group 218 from FIG. 19A, followed by acoarse RX BF period 238. Similarly, a transmission 240 from sector group220 from FIG. 19A, followed by another coarse RX BF period 242.

Thus, it is seen that during the transmission interval, SSW frames withmesh configuration information are directionally transmitted. During thereception period, the mesh acknowledgments are received from other meshSTA in the form of responder SSW frames. The transmission time “t” isdependent on the number of TX sectors and the precision desired for thecoarse RX BF design. The reception time “r” is flexible. It can be madeto accommodate acknowledgments from multiple neighbor mesh STAs. It alsoallows sharing the medium for ongoing data transmissions or for periodicjoint neighbor discovery and BF training phase from other STAs.

4.2. One Shot Transmit and Receive Sectors Sweeping

In another embodiment, one BF training transmission interval isconsidered followed by a BF training reception interval. As in theprevious embodiment, transmission is performed with fine array patternsectors while reception is performed with coarse RX beamforming. Thereceive BF interval in this embodiment, is however, divided into slots.During each slot, only some neighbor mesh STA will contend to access thechannel and complete the BF training, that also contains the meshdiscovery response, with the initiator STA.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example embodiment 250 of the one shot SSWtransmission and reception BF, along time 251. Channel access ofneighbor mesh STAs during reception period is performed through themechanism of sector grouping. In period 252 SSW and mesh scanning framesare sent for groups 216, 218, 220 as seen in FIG. 19A. In response,weights for coarse receive beamforming patterns are applied during 254,256, and 258, respectively. In this way, a group of transmit sectors aremapped to a group ID. This group ID is signaled in every frame of thejoint BF training and mesh discovery request signal. Details of whichhave been described in the MSSW IE, see FIG. 19 for the details. Whenthis group ID is processed by a neighbor STA, it maps this group indexto a transmission slot. It then accesses the channel and completes theBF training together with responding to the mesh network discoverymessage only during this specific transmission slot.

5. Adaptive Signaling for Mesh Network Discovery

5.1. Overview

Another core of the present disclosure is describing the adapting ofdifferent parameters of the mesh network discovery signaling. Conceptsof partial BF training, freezing of BF training, and starting andresuming of mesh network discovery are disclosed.

In addition, flexible time is allocated for alternate transmission andreception of the simultaneous BF training and mesh network discoveryframes. Factors that affect the early termination decision and the timeallocated for transmission and reception include the antennacapabilities of the STA, the responses received from other mesh STAs, aswell as the latency allowed for a specific traffic type, a quality ofservice (QoS) constraint. The flexibility allowed by this adaptivescheme enables efficient discovery and data exchange in mesh networkswith various levels of node density.

5.2. Freezing of Training and Mesh Discovery

FIG. 23 illustrates an example embodiment 270 of freezing BF trainingand mesh discovery along time line 272. The joint BF training and meshdiscovery is halted after two periods 274, 278 of mesh scanning as manyresponses 276, 280 have been received from neighbor STAs, includingother mesh STAs 282. The mesh STA makes a local decision to commencecommunication 284 with the discovered mesh STAs 286, 288, to avoidlatency in delivering the data packets. Afterwards, the STA resumes 290,294, the joint BF training and mesh discovery, with response 292, untilit finishes sweeping all the transmit sectors. After which the STAcommences communication 296 with the other stations.

5.3. Flexible Mesh Discovery Transmission and Reception Times

FIG. 24A through FIG. 24C illustrates allocating flexible transmissiontimes. In FIG. 24A is illustrated an example embodiment 310 whichassumes a mesh STA 312 is configured with a plurality, exemplifiedherein as six, fine transmit sectors 314 a through 314 n. In FIG. 24B isillustrated an example embodiment 330 over time line 332 in which it isdecided to sweep two sectors at each period of mesh scanning. Thus, in aperiod “t_a” 338 sector 1 is swept 334 and sector 2 is swept 336,followed by a reception period “r” 340. Similarly, sector 3 is swept 342and sector 4 is swept 344, then in a later period sector 5 is swept 346and sector 6 is swept 348.

In FIG. 24C is illustrated an example embodiment 350 over the same timeline 332, in which it is decided to sweep three sectors at each periodof mesh scanning. Thus, in a period “t_b” 352 sector 1 is swept 334,sector 2 is swept 336, and sector 3 is swept 342 followed by a receptionperiod “r” 354. Then in a later period sector 4 is swept 344, sector 5is swept 346, and sector 6 is swept 348. The sweeping pattern in FIG.24B compared to that of FIG. 24C has the advantage of decreasing chancesof collision during reception of responses from neighbor STAs while ithas the disadvantage of increased overall time to finish one cycle ofmesh network discovery.

FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B illustrates example embodiments 390, 410 ofallocating flexible reception time across a time line 332. In thesefigures, the transmission duration “t” 392, 412, respectively, is thesame within a period of mesh discovery. However, in FIG. 25B, more time,“r_b” 414, as compared to time “r_a” 394 is allocated for reception ofresponses or beacons from existing mesh STAs. It is seen in both, thatsectors 1 through 6 are swept 334, 336, 342, 344, 346 and 348. Thelonger reception time decreases collision probability during receptionof responses from neighbor STAs and causes less disruption to ongoingdata transmissions between existing mesh STAs. However, longer receptiontimes as depicted in FIG. 25B compared to those of FIG. 25A increase theoverall time to finish one cycle of mesh network discovery.

5.4. Logic to Adapt Mesh Discovery Signals

FIG. 26A through FIG. 26B illustrates an example embodiment 430 of logicimplemented by a STA to adapt the mesh discovery signaling. Thefollowing nomenclature is found in the flow diagram:

-   -   N: total number of transmit sectors;    -   L: maximum tolerable latency;    -   G: number of sector groups or number of mesh scanning periods;    -   g: running index for groups of sectors;    -   M: number of transmit sectors swept per group;    -   Ts: time needed to sweep one frame from a single sector;    -   j: fraction representing amount of time allocated for a single        sweeping period of mesh discovery frames relative to the        latency;    -   q: a number representing the amount of time allocated for        reception relative to transmission in a single mesh scanning        period;    -   R: number of mesh discovery responses received from existing        mesh STAs up to a given point in time;    -   R*: Pre-defined threshold for R;    -   D: Time spent for mesh discovery at a given point in time; and    -   k: fraction representing the amount of time allocated for        partial mesh scanning relative to the latency.

The previous parameters enable adaptation of the mesh discoverysignaling to achieve the freezing of BF training and/or flexibletransmission and reception times. The process starts 432 and the STAfetches 434 stored transmit antenna capability, with record N containing436 the number of sectors. Then Ts is determined (computed) 438 as thesweeping time of a single fine sector. STA fetches 440 stored quality ofservice (QoS) requirements, and records L 442 as the maximum recommendedlatency. A determination (computation) 444 of M=(L*j)/Ts as the maximumnumber of fine sectors per group. Then value G is determined (computed)446 as G=N/M. In block 448 or is determined as M*Ts*q as the receptionperiod. A mesh discovery frame is prepared in block 450, and g isinitialized 452 to 1, then the mesh discovery frame is swept 454 throughthe g-th group of sectors. Then in block 458 of FIG. 26B the RX BFweights are applied, and then the received mesh and BF trainingresponses are processed 460. A decision is made at block 462 if thenumber of mesh discovery responses (R) is greater than a predefinedthreshold (*R) and at the same time that the time spent on meshdiscovery at a given point in time (D) is greater than the maximumtolerable latency (L) times the fraction representing the time allocatedfor partial scanning (k).

If the relation is met in decision 462, with both conditions met, thenblock 464 is executed with the peering process started including dataexchange with discovered mesh STAs. After which, the value R and D arereset 466 to zero, and execution moves to decision block 468 where acheck is made if the running index (g) is equal to the number of sectorgroups or number mesh scanning periods (G). If this condition is met,the process ends 469, otherwise a return is made to block 456 in FIG.26A where the running index is incremented (g=g+1), and execution movesto block 454 of that figure.

For an example of the above, assume a STA with the following parameters;N=16 sectors, L=2 msec latency, Ts=50 μs, j=0.1, k=0.4, q=2, R*=10. Tocompute the number of sectors per scanning period,M=L*j/Ts=2000*0.1/50=4 sectors. To compute the number of sector groupsor the number of scanning periods G, the relation G=N/M=4 periods orgroups. The transmission time per group is M*Ts=4*50=200 μs. And thereception time per group is r=M*Ts*q=4*50*2=400 μs. Hence, in thisexample one cycle of mesh discovery transmission and reception takes 600μs.

Assuming that the number of mesh discovery responses, either proberesponses or beacons from existing STAs, received after the first meshdiscovery period is four. Hence R=4<R*. At this point in time, D=600 μs,L*k=2000*0.4=800 and it is clear that D<L*k. Hence the condition tofreeze the mesh discovery as explained for FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B is notmet.

Proceeding with the second cycle of mesh discovery, in this scenario itis assumed that seven more responses are received. At this point intime, D=1200 μs, R=4+7=11. Hence the condition to freeze the meshdiscovery is met. Mesh discovery will be halted temporarily. The STAbegins mesh peering, and possibly data exchange with mesh stationsalready discovered so far. Afterwards, the STA can resume BF trainingand mesh discovery by sweeping other groups of sectors.

FIG. 27A through FIG. 27F illustrate a mesh discovery protocol. In FIG.27A is an example embodiment 470 of group of mmWave mesh network STAs,showing STA A 472, STA B 474, STA C 476, STA D 478, STA E 480, and STA F482. The following scenario is considered with STAs B, C, D, E and Fwithin an existing mesh STA, to which STA A would like to be a member.The dashed arrows depict ongoing communications between existing meshSTAs B, C and D, while the dotted arrows show that STAs B, C, E, and Fare within the transmission range of STA A.

In FIG. 27B is an example embodiment 490 of TX and RX BF sectors for STAA 492, showing twelve fine TX sectors 493 divided into three groups 496,498 and 500, each with four sectors involved in sector sweep 494. Thegrouping follows the logic explained in a previous section. Three coarseBF sectors during reception improves the chance of detecting responsesfrom nearby STAs.

FIG. 27C illustrates one example embodiment 510 of sweeping the meshdiscovery frames over time line 511. Alternate transmission andreception for mesh discovery responses is performed. Sweeping is shownfor each of the sector groups, a first group 496 in FIG. 27B sweep 512with response 514, then an ACK is sent for the mesh discovery responseframe 516. Followed by a second group 498 in FIG. 25B sweep 518 followedby responses 520, then a mesh discovery ACK 522. Finally a third group500 from FIG. 27B sweep 524, followed by response 526, then a meshdiscovery ACK 528.

It will be noted that after sweeping the mesh discovery frames through agroup of fine sectors, STA A applies BF RX weights to wait for meshdiscovery response frames or beacons from existing mesh STAs.Acknowledgments 516, 522, 528 for the mesh discovery response frames aresent before sweeping a new group of fine sectors.

In FIG. 27D illustrates an example embodiment 530 the reception ofresponses by STA A over the same time line 511. Responses are seencoming in for STA F 532, STA E 534, STA C 536 and STA B 538. It shouldbe noted that a single group of sectors at STA A cover both STAs E andF. During the first reception period at STA A, both STAs E and F competefor channel access to respond to STA A. In the second reception period,STA C is the only STA listening to the sweeping of mesh discoverysectors from STA A. STA C responds to the mesh discovery frames duringthe second reception period. It should be appreciated that STA C isinvolved in communications with the existing mesh network. However, thesweeping of the first group of sectors by STA A and the relatively largereception period allows ongoing communications of STA C to take placewithout disruption from STA A. Similarly in the third reception period,only STA B responds to the frames swept through the third group ofsectors.

Since the number of responses received from neighbor STAs are limited,STA A decides not to halt the mesh discovery/BF training phases asexplained in a prior section. STA A finishes the mesh discovery phasesand then afterwards start peering and data exchange with alreadydiscovered STAs.

FIG. 27E and FIG. 27F illustrate embodiments 550, 570 over the same timeline 511, of a variation for alternate transmission and reception ofmesh discovery/BF training as explained in a previous section. In FIG.27E, after sweeping all the fine sectors, with sweeps 552, 554, 556,STAs that hear the mesh discovery frames compete during specificreception periods to respond back 558, 560 and 562, with mesh networkresponse frames. STA A, after finishing all reception periods, schedulesmultiple Acknowledgment frames (ACKs) 564 directionally to the mesh STAsthat transmitted mesh discovery response frames. In FIG. 27F isillustrated an example 570 of response reception by STA A, comprisingresponses coming in for STA F 572, STA E 574, STA C 576 and STA B 578.

FIG. 28A illustrates an example embodiment 590 of station (STA) hardwareconfiguration. In this example an external I/O connection 592 is showncoupled to bus 594, upon which a computer processor (CPU) 596 and memory(RAM) 598 are attached. The external I/O provides the STA with externalI/O, such as to sensors, actuators and so forth. Instructions frommemory 598 are executed on processor 596 to execute a program whichimplements the communication protocols. This host machine is shownconfigured with a modem 600, coupled between bus 594 and radio-frequency(RF) circuitry 602 a, 602 b, 602C, each supporting a plurality ofantennas 604 a through 604 n, 606 a through 606 n, and 608 a through 608n, to transmit and receive frames with neighboring STAs. Although threeRF circuits are shown in this example, embodiments of the presentdisclosure can be configured with modem 600 coupled to any arbitrarynumber of RF circuits. In general, using a larger number of RF circuitswill result in broader coverage of the antenna beam direction. It shouldbe appreciated that the number of RF circuits and number of antennasbeing utilized is determined by hardware constraints of a specificdevice. Some of the RF circuitry and antennas may be disabled when theSTA determines it is unnecessary to communicate with neighbor STAs. Inat least one embodiment, the RF circuitry includes frequency converter,array antenna controller, and so forth, and is connected to multipleantennas which are controlled to perform beamforming for transmissionand reception. In this way the STA can transmit signals using multiplesets of beam patterns, each beam pattern direction being considered asan antenna sector. Antenna sector is determined by a selection of RFcircuitry and beamforming commanded by the array antenna controller.Although it is possible that STA hardware components, such as 596through 604 c, have different functional partitions from the onedescribed above, such configuration can be deemed to be a variant of theexplained configuration.

FIG. 29 illustrates an example embodiment 630 of antenna transmitdirections available to an STA to generate a plurality of (e.g., 36)antenna sector patterns. By way of example and not limitation, the STAis shown implementing three RF circuits 632 a, 632 b, and 632 c andtheir connected antennas. Each RF circuit and its connected antennagenerates multiple (e.g., 12) beamforming patterns, depicted as 634 athrough 634 n, along with similar patterns 636, 638, wherein the STAprovides a total of 36 antenna sectors. For the sake of simplicity ofdescription, and not limitation, it is assumed that all STAs have fourantenna sectors. Any arbitrary beam pattern can be mapped to an antennasector. Typically, the beam pattern is formed to generate a sharp beam,but it is possible that the beam pattern is generated to transmit orreceive signals from multiple angles.

The enhancements described in the presented technology can be readilyimplemented within various wireless communication devices. It shouldalso be appreciated that wireless data communication devices aretypically implemented to include one or more computer processor devices(e.g., CPU, microprocessor, microcontroller, computer enabled ASIC,etc.) and one or more associated memories storing instructions (e.g.,RAM, DRAM, NVRAM, FLASH, computer readable media, etc.) wherebyprogramming (instructions) stored in the memory are executed on theprocessor to perform the steps of the various process methods describedherein.

Embodiments of the present technology may be described herein withreference to flowchart illustrations of methods and systems according toembodiments of the technology, and/or procedures, algorithms, steps,operations, formulae, or other computational depictions, which may alsobe implemented as computer program products. In this regard, each blockor step of a flowchart, and combinations of blocks (and/or steps) in aflowchart, as well as any procedure, algorithm, step, operation,formula, or computational depiction can be implemented by various means,such as hardware, firmware, and/or software including one or morecomputer program instructions embodied in computer-readable programcode. As will be appreciated, any such computer program instructions maybe executed by one or more computer processors, including withoutlimitation a general purpose computer or special purpose computer, orother programmable processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe computer program instructions which execute on the computerprocessor(s) or other programmable processing apparatus create means forimplementing the function(s) specified.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowcharts, and procedures, algorithms,steps, operations, formulae, or computational depictions describedherein support combinations of means for performing the specifiedfunction(s), combinations of steps for performing the specifiedfunction(s), and computer program instructions, such as embodied incomputer-readable program code logic means, for performing the specifiedfunction(s). It will also be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations, as well as any procedures, algorithms, steps, operations,formulae, or computational depictions and combinations thereof describedherein, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computersystems which perform the specified function(s) or step(s), orcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer-readable programcode.

Furthermore, these computer program instructions, such as embodied incomputer-readable program code, may also be stored in one or morecomputer-readable memory or memory devices that can direct a computerprocessor or other programmable processing apparatus to function in aparticular manner, such that the instructions stored in thecomputer-readable memory or memory devices produce an article ofmanufacture including instruction means which implement the functionspecified in the block(s) of the flowchart(s). The computer programinstructions may also be executed by a computer processor or otherprogrammable processing apparatus to cause a series of operational stepsto be performed on the computer processor or other programmableprocessing apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such thatthe instructions which execute on the computer processor or otherprogrammable processing apparatus provide steps for implementing thefunctions specified in the block(s) of the flowchart(s), procedure (s)algorithm(s), step(s), operation(s), formula(e), or computationaldepiction(s).

It will further be appreciated that the terms “programming” or “programexecutable” as used herein refer to one or more instructions that can beexecuted by one or more computer processors to perform one or morefunctions as described herein. The instructions can be embodied insoftware, in firmware, or in a combination of software and firmware. Theinstructions can be stored local to the device in non-transitory media,or can be stored remotely, such as on a server, or all or a portion ofthe instructions can be stored locally and remotely. Instructions storedremotely can be downloaded (pushed) to the device by user initiation, orautomatically based on one or more factors.

It will further be appreciated that as used herein, that the termsprocessor, hardware processor, computer processor, central processingunit (CPU), and computer are used synonymously to denote a devicecapable of executing the instructions and communicating withinput/output interfaces and/or peripheral devices, and that the termsprocessor, hardware processor, computer processor, CPU, and computer areintended to encompass single or multiple devices, single core andmulticore devices, and variations thereof.

From the description herein, it will be appreciated that the presentdisclosure encompasses multiple embodiments which include, but are notlimited to, the following:

1. An apparatus for wireless communication with directionaltransmission, comprising: (a) a wireless communication circuitconfigured for wirelessly communicating with other wirelesscommunication stations utilizing directional transmission having aplurality of antenna pattern sectors each having different transmissiondirections; (b) a processor coupled to said wireless communicationcircuit; (c) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable bythe processor; and (d) wherein said instructions, when executed by theprocessor, perform steps comprising: (d)(i) commencing or responding toa joint process for beamforming (BF) training for said antenna patternsectors and scanning for mesh network discovery, in which frames areswept through said antenna pattern sectors and contain information aboutmesh network ID and mesh network capabilities in addition to beamforming(BF) training frames which comprise information on directional operationparameters and sector sweep information; (d)(ii) performing in a singlephase for said process of BF training, a fine transmit-side training anda coarse receive-side training, in which a mesh STA with directionaltransmission sweeps BF training frames across fine sectors in atransmission period and receives BF responder frames on coarse sectors;and (d)(iii) adapting said process for joint BF training and meshnetwork discovery, with programming to determine partial BF training andflexible time allocation for transmission and reception periods of saidBF training frames.

2. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus performs a multiple-hop communication networkprotocol for directional transmission in the PHY layer of saidmultiple-hop communication network protocol.

3. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus performs a multiple-hop communication networkprotocol for directional transmission for a station operating in a modeselected from a group of station type modes consisting of sourcestation, destination station, intermediate (hop) station, mesh accesspoint, client station, mesh station, portal station, multiple inputmultiple output station, and single input single output station.

4. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus is configured for operating in a networkcontaining any desired combination of mesh and non-mesh stations.

5. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said wirelesscommunication circuit is configured for transmitting and receiving onmillimeter wave frequencies.

6. An apparatus for wireless communication with directionaltransmission, comprising: (a) a wireless communication circuitconfigured for wirelessly communicating with other wirelesscommunication stations; (b) wherein said wireless communication circuitis configured with directional transmission having a plurality ofantenna pattern sectors each having different transmission directions;(c) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit; (d) anon-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor;and (e) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor,perform steps comprising: performing simultaneous BF training andscanning for mesh network discovery, whereby frames are swept throughantenna pattern sectors and contain information about mesh network IDand mesh network capabilities in addition to BF training frameinformation including directional operation parameters and sector sweepinformation.

7. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:receiving joint network entry and BF training frames by mesh STAs whichtransmit response frames that comprise sector sweep responderinformation and mesh network configuration.

8. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:performing an adaptive neighbor discovery scheme in which partial BFtraining and early termination of BF training and mesh network discoveryare decided together with allocating flexible time for alternatetransmission and reception of simultaneous BF training and mesh networkdiscovery frames.

9. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:performing fine transmit BF training and coarse receive BF training in asingle phase, whereby a mesh STA with directional transmission sweeps BFtraining frames across fine sectors in a transmission period andreceives BF responder frames on coarse sectors.

10. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment: (a) wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus performs a multiple-hop communication networkprotocol for directional transmission in the PHY layer of saidmultiple-hop communication network protocol; (b) wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus performs a multiple-hop communication networkprotocol for directional transmission for a station operating in a modeselected from a group of station type modes consisting of sourcestation, destination station, intermediate (hop) station, mesh accesspoint, client station, mesh station, portal station, multiple inputmultiple output station, and single input single output station; and (c)wherein said wireless communication apparatus is configured foroperating in a network containing any desired combination of mesh andnon-mesh stations.

11. An apparatus for wireless communication with directionaltransmission, comprising: (a) a wireless communication circuitconfigured for wirelessly communicating with other wirelesscommunication stations; (b) wherein said wireless communication circuitis configured with directional transmission having a plurality ofantenna pattern sectors each having different transmission directions;(c) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit; (d) anon-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor;and (e) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor,perform steps comprising: performing directional transmission with anadaptive neighbor discovery scheme in a mesh network, whereby partial BFtraining and early termination of BF training and mesh network discoveryare decided together with allocating flexible time for alternatetransmission and reception of simultaneous BF training and mesh networkdiscovery frames.

12. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:performing simultaneous BF training and scanning for mesh networkdiscovery, in which frames are swept through antenna pattern sectors andcontain information about mesh network ID and mesh network capabilitiesin addition to BF training frame information including directionaloperation parameters and sector sweep information.

13. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:receiving joint network entry and BF training frames by mesh STAs whichthen transmit response frames that include sector sweep responderinformation and mesh network configuration.

14. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:performing fine transmit BF training and coarse receive BF training in asingle phase, in which a mesh STA with directional transmission sweepsBF training frames across fine sectors in a transmission period andreceives BF responder frames on coarse sectors.

15. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment: (a) wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus performs a multiple-hop communication networkprotocol for directional transmission in the PHY layer of saidmultiple-hop communication network protocol; (b) wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus performs a multiple-hop communication networkprotocol for directional transmission for a station operating in a modeselected from a group of station type modes consisting of sourcestation, destination station, intermediate (hop) station, mesh accesspoint, client station, mesh station, portal station, multiple inputmultiple output station, and single input single output station; and (c)wherein said wireless communication apparatus is configured foroperating in a network containing any desired combination of mesh andnon-mesh stations.

16. An apparatus for wireless communication with directionaltransmission, comprising: (a) a wireless communication circuitconfigured for wirelessly communicating with other wirelesscommunication stations; (b) wherein said wireless communication circuitis configured with directional transmission having a plurality ofantenna pattern sectors each having different transmission directions;(c) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit; (d) anon-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor;and (e) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor,perform steps comprising: performing adaptive neighbor discovery in amesh network, in which partial BF training and early termination of BFtraining and mesh network discovery are decided together with allocatingflexible time for alternate transmission and reception of simultaneousBF training and mesh network discovery frames.

17. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:performing simultaneous BF training and scanning for mesh networkdiscovery, in which frames are swept through antenna pattern sectors andcontain information about mesh network ID and mesh network capabilitiesin addition to BF training frame information including directionaloperation parameters and sector sweep information.

18. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:receiving joint network entry and BF training frames by mesh STAs whichthen transmit response frames that include sector sweep responderinformation and mesh network configuration.

19. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein said instructionswhen executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:performing fine transmit BF training and coarse receive BF training in asingle phase, in which a mesh STA with directional transmission sweepsBF training frames across fine sectors in a transmission period andreceives BF responder frames on coarse sectors.

20. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment: (a) wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus performs a multiple-hop communication networkprotocol for directional transmission in the PHY layer of saidmultiple-hop communication network protocol; (b) wherein said wirelesscommunication apparatus performs a multiple-hop communication networkprotocol for directional transmission for a station operating in a modeselected from a group of station type modes consisting of sourcestation, destination station, intermediate (hop) station, mesh accesspoint, client station, mesh station, portal station, multiple inputmultiple output station, and single input single output station; and (c)wherein said wireless communication apparatus is configured foroperating in a network containing any desired combination of mesh andnon-mesh stations.

Although the description herein contains many details, these should notbe construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure but as merelyproviding illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments.Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure fullyencompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilledin the art.

In the claims, reference to an element in the singular is not intendedto mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “oneor more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements ofthe disclosed embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill inthe art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intendedto be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element,component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to bededicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, ormethod step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element hereinis to be construed as a “means plus function” element unless the elementis expressly recited using the phrase “means for”. No claim elementherein is to be construed as a “step plus function” element unless theelement is expressly recited using the phrase “step for”.

1. (canceled)
 2. An apparatus for wireless communication withdirectional transmission, comprising: (a) a wireless communicationcircuit configured for wirelessly communicating with other wirelesscommunication stations; (b) wherein said wireless communication circuitis configured with directional transmission having a plurality ofantenna pattern sectors each having different transmission directions;(c) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit; and (d)a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by theprocessor; (e) wherein said instructions, when executed by theprocessor, perform steps comprising: (i) performing simultaneousbeamform (BF) training and scanning for a network or a neighbor station,in which transmitting frames are swept through antenna pattern sectors;(ii) wherein the transmitting frames contain information about networkID and network capabilities in addition to BF training frame informationincluding directional operation parameters and sector sweep information;and (iii) wherein a new node attempting to join the network sweeps adiscovery signal to jointly discover and initiate BF training withneighbors in an existing network, comprising: (A) transmitting a sweepof discovery request frames across a group of antenna pattern sectors bysaid new node; (B) determining that discovery response frames have beenreceived; (C) recording information on the network ID and networkcapabilities information with best sector information, when one or morediscovery response frames are received; and (D) continuing transmittinga sweep of discovery request frames across another group of antennapattern sectors, when a discovery frame is not received.
 3. Theapparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said instructions when executedby the processor further perform steps comprising sweeping of proberequests, by said new node, across a limited number of fine antennapattern sectors and waiting for receiving responses from the otherwireless communication stations on the network, after which said newnode repeats sweeping of probe requests with a new set of fine antennapattern sectors until it has covered all antenna pattern sectors in atransmit antenna pattern.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2,wherein said network, upon which beamform (BF) training and scanning fora network is performed, comprises a mesh network.
 5. The apparatus asrecited in claim 4, wherein said instructions when executed by theprocessor performing recording of network capabilities information,further comprises recording parameters for mesh networks.
 6. Theapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said instructions when executedby the processor further perform steps comprising: receiving jointnetwork entry and BF training frames by mesh stations on the networkwhich transmit response frames that comprise antenna pattern sectorsweep responder information and mesh network configuration information.7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said instructions whenexecuted by the processor further perform steps comprising: performingan adaptive neighbor discovery scheme in which partial BF training andearly termination of BF training and mesh network discovery are decidedtogether with allocating flexible time for alternate transmission andreception of simultaneous BF training and mesh network discovery frames.8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said instructions whenexecuted by the processor further perform steps comprising: performingfine transmit BF training and coarse receive BF training in a singlephase, whereby a mesh station on the network having directionaltransmission sweeps BF training frames across fine antenna patternsectors in a transmission period and receives BF responder frames oncoarse antenna pattern sectors.
 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1:(a) wherein said wireless communication apparatus performs amultiple-hop communication network protocol for directional transmissionin a PHY layer of said multiple-hop communication network protocol; (b)wherein said wireless communication apparatus performs a multiple-hopcommunication network protocol for directional transmission for astation operating in a mode selected from a group of station type modesconsisting of source station, destination station, intermediate (hop)station, mesh access point, client station, mesh station, portalstation, multiple input multiple output station, and single input singleoutput station; and (c) wherein said wireless communication apparatus isconfigured for operating in a network containing any desired combinationof mesh and non-mesh stations.
 10. An apparatus for wirelesscommunication with directional transmission, comprising: (a) a wirelesscommunication circuit configured for wirelessly communicating on anetwork with other wireless communication stations utilizing directionaltransmission having a plurality of antenna pattern sectors each havingdifferent transmission directions, wherein said other wirelesscommunication stations comprise mesh stations, non-mesh stations, or acombination of mesh stations and non-mesh stations; (b) a processorcoupled to said wireless communication circuit; and (c) a non-transitorymemory storing instructions executable by the processor; (d) whereinsaid instructions, when executed by the processor, perform stepscomprising: (i) performing network scanning along with performingbeamform (BF) training by transmitting one or more sweeps of requestframes across a group of antenna direction sectors, in which framescontain information on: network ID, network capabilities, and BFtraining frame information that comprises directional operationparameters and sector sweep information; and (ii) performing jointdiscovery and BF training initiation by a new node attempting to jointhe network by sweeping a discovery signal, comprising: (A) transmittinga sweep of discovery request frames across a group of antenna patternsectors; (B) receiving response frames from other wireless communicationstations on the network; (C) recording network information, includingnetwork ID, network capabilities information including best sectorinformation and mesh profile parameters, when one or more responseframes are received; and (D) transmitting continued sweeps of requestframes containing network ID, and network capabilities informationincluding best sector information, mesh profile parameters and bestsector related information, across another group of antenna patternsectors, when a response frame has not been received.
 11. The apparatusas recited in claim 10, wherein said instructions when executed by theprocessor further perform steps comprising sweeping of probe requests,by said new node, across a limited number of fine antenna patternsectors and waiting for receiving responses from the other wirelesscommunication stations on the network, after which said new node repeatssweeping of probe requests with a new set of fine antenna patternsectors until it has covered all antenna pattern sectors in a transmitantenna pattern.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein saidnetwork, upon which beamform (BF) training and scanning for a network isperformed, comprises a mesh network.
 13. The apparatus as recited inclaim 12, wherein said instructions when executed by the processorfurther perform steps comprising: receiving joint network entry and BFtraining frames by mesh stations on the network which transmit responseframes that comprise antenna pattern sector sweep responder informationand mesh network configuration information.
 14. The apparatus as recitedin claim 12, wherein said instructions when executed by the processorfurther perform steps comprising: performing an adaptive neighbordiscovery scheme in which partial BF training and early termination ofBF training and mesh network discovery are decided together withallocating flexible time for alternate transmission and reception ofsimultaneous BF training and mesh network discovery frames.
 15. Theapparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said instructions whenexecuted by the processor further perform steps comprising: performingfine transmit BF training and coarse receive BF training in a singlephase, whereby a mesh station on the network having directionaltransmission sweeps BF training frames across fine antenna patternsectors in a transmission period and receives BF responder frames oncoarse antenna pattern sectors.
 16. The apparatus as recited in claim10: (a) wherein said wireless communication apparatus performs amultiple-hop communication network protocol for directional transmissionin a PHY layer of said multiple-hop communication network protocol; and(b) wherein said wireless communication apparatus performs amultiple-hop communication network protocol for directional transmissionfor a station operating in a mode selected from a group of station typemodes consisting of source station, destination station, intermediate(hop) station, mesh access point, client station, mesh station, portalstation, multiple input multiple output station, and single input singleoutput station.
 17. A method of performing wireless communication withdirectional transmission, comprising: (a) establishing wirelesscommunications between wireless communications circuits acting as nodeson a network which have directional transmission capability through aplurality of antenna pattern sectors each having different transmissiondirections; and (b) performing simultaneous beamform (BF) training andscanning to establish said wireless communications by sweeping requestframes through antenna pattern sectors; (c) wherein the request framescontain information on mesh network ID and mesh network capabilities inaddition to BF training frame information including directionaloperation parameters and antenna pattern sector sweep information; and(d) wherein a new node attempting to join the network sweeps a proberequest to jointly discover and initiate BF training with neighbors inan existing network, comprising: (i) transmitting a sweep of discoveryrequest frames across a group of antenna pattern sectors by said newnode; (ii) recording information on network ID and network capabilitieswith best sector information, when one or more discovery response framesare received; and (iii) continuing to transmit one or more sweeps ofdiscovery request frames across antenna pattern sectors, until adiscovery response frame is received.
 18. The method as recited in claim17, wherein said instructions when executed by the processor furtherperform steps comprising sweeping of probe requests, by said new node,across a limited number of fine antenna pattern sectors and waiting forreceiving responses from the other wireless communication stations onthe network, after which said new node repeats sweeping of proberequests with a new set of fine antenna pattern sectors until it hascovered all antenna pattern sectors in a transmit antenna pattern. 19.The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said network, upon whichbeamform (BF) training and scanning for a network is performed,comprises a mesh network.
 20. The method as recited in claim 17, whereinsaid recording of network capabilities information, further comprisesrecording parameters for mesh networks.
 21. The method as recited inclaim 17: (a) wherein said wireless communications are performs by amultiple-hop communication network protocol for directional transmissionin a PHY layer of said multiple-hop communication network protocol; (b)wherein said wireless communications are performed using a multiple-hopcommunication network protocol for directional transmission for astation operating in a mode selected from a group of station type modesconsisting of source station, destination station, intermediate (hop)station, mesh access point, client station, mesh station, portalstation, multiple input multiple output station, and single input singleoutput station; and (c) wherein said wireless communications areperformed in a network containing any desired combination of mesh andnon-mesh stations.